The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-12-21
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Senator CuIlom's Bill to Define
and Extend the Commits
sioners' Powers.
1t Proposes to Take the Commission Out
of the Jurisdict on of the Interior
Department.

Among the numerous bills introduced in
the Senate is one by Senator Cullom to
amend the interstate commerce act. The
amendments include the recommendations
of the Commissioners, and are in minute
legal form. The following is synopsis Of
the more important provisions:
1. To extend the provisions of the act so as to
apply to express, sleeping-cnr, drawing ROOM
car, palace-car, stock-car and tank-car COM
panes. and any other companies, associations,
or persons furnishing for public use upon rail-
roads cars or other instrulnentalites for the
transportation of persons or property"
2. TO prohibit not only pooling between differ
ent railroads, but between different railroads
and other carriers.
5. In the sixth section, which relates to the
publication of rates, the provisions with respect
to the advance and reduction in rates are re-
peated, SO as to apply specifically to joint
through rates. The short haul provision is also
repeated in order that there shall be no ques-
ton that it applies to Joint through rates.
4. AS TO tho short haul provision it is provid-
ed that where complaint is made against two
or more carriers for violating it, and the VIOLA
tions occur between points on the road of one
only that road only shall be held liable for the
violation.
8. The commission Is authorized to prescribe
the form in which the schedule prescribed by
the law for public inspection shall be prepared
or arranged. No special form Is prescribed in
the law.
u. The commission is also authorized to make
provision for the official publication of its de-
csions,
z. An nd iiton to section 15 which relates to
compensation for damages, is proposed, to the
effect that when a complainant is seeking to re-
cover damages the carrier may fle with the
commission its consent that the commission
may pass the question of damages, and in
such case the carrier shall he bound by the de-
cision of the commission, and the decision of the
commiss on shall stand us u Judgment which
may be enforced by execution by United States
marshals in the same manner as judgments Of
the United States Circuit Court are enforced. In
case such assent is not filed, the commission
may investigate and report the subject of dam
ages, and IL il shall report that the complainant
has suffered damages 10 specified amount,
il may name the time for tho payment for sue b
damages and IL the carrier shall make the pay
ment within the time named, the sum shall be
in full satisfaction of any claim the complain
ant may have under the act in respect to the
grieV anccs complained Of but IL such payment
is not made the complainant may proceed In
any United States Court Of competent jurisdic-
ton to recover damages for the wrong stuff cred
and such proceedings, findings and report Of
the commission shall be prima-faci evidence
of the facts found.
The provision is also made to take the COM
mission out of the jurisdiction of the Int terror
Department and make il independent, andkto
require it TO report direct to Congress as recon-
mended by the Secretary Of the Interior.